NASCAR is in Atlanta for the Ambetter Health 400 this Sunday at 3:00 ET.
Fantasy users must lock in their lineup by 2:55 ET. The garage locks at lap 160(after this, you cannot swap your garage driver for a starter).
These two are the best drivers at Atlanta by average finish. Ryan Blaney has the best average finish at Atlanta since February of 2022 at 7.2, while Daniel Suarez is right behind him at 7.3.
The 12 car has three top fives and five top 10s at Atlanta. Blaney also has the most points at Atlanta in the last 10 races with 428. Suarez has four top fives and five top 10s. Users cannot go wrong with either of them.
Suarez placed 13th at Daytona, and his best speed was 196.044. The speed was there at Daytona, and it could very well translate to Atlanta.
Trackhouse is the best team at Atlanta, with an average finish of 9.7, but do not expect Shane Van Gisbergen to have a great race. Ross Chastain, however, is a top-15 driver at Atlanta, with an average finish of 16.8.
Team Penske has the second-best average finish for teams at 10.9. Logano won the most recent Atlanta race last fall and has led 12.8 percent of laps in six races there, the most of the 14 drivers with average finishes of at least 15 at Atlanta. Austin Cindric has five top 20s in his six races there.
Spire could also be a sneaky good team on Sunday. In 14 races at the 1.5-mile superspeedway, they have an average finish of 18.7. Justin Haley, in the 51 car for Rick Ware Racing, drove his car to 12th place in the last Atlanta race. He accumulated 51 points and had an average position of 17.3. With better Spire equipment, he could collect another top-15 finish. He could be a good fit to save a top driver for later in the season.
Toyota has not won a race at Atlanta since 2013, and 23XI is the only Toyota team to have an average finish better than 19th since February 2022. Chevrolet and Ford are much stronger at Atlanta than the Japanese manufacturer. Fantasy users should keep this in mind when making selections.
Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman are two of the better options for this race. Elliott has the average finishes (8.9) and average rating (97.7) to prove it, but Bowman is the 26th on the list for average finish. His most recent finish at Atlanta is his saving grace and why users should consider him. Bowman had an average position of 5.2 and finished in 5th the last time he was on the banks of Atlanta.
A.J. Allmendinger has fared well at Atlanta in just two cup races (he also performed well in Xfinity at the 1.5-mile track). Sprinkle him in as a solid value pick. Atlanta is a top-10 track for the veteran.
Byron vs Logano
The 24 car is coming off a win at Daytona, so he will have momentum. That said, Logano is a better racer at the 1.5 track. Go with the 22 car.
Suarez vs Busch
Two of the cars involved in the amazing finish in last year’s Atlanta spring race. For that reason, it should be a fun battle. The 99 is a top driver at Atlanta. Suarez has the advantage.
Blaney vs Bell
Bell will be looking for a great finish after wrecking in Daytona, but he has not had much success in the Peach State. Take the 2023 NASCAR Champion, Ryan Blaney.
Briscoe vs Cindric
The 19 team will be looking to recover points after receiving a massive penalty earlier this week. They should come out hot; however, Penske is just too good on the superspeedway. The 2 car takes this one.
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona drew nearly 1.4 million viewers on FS1, beating the 2025 opening race number by 37%, and becoming the most-viewed Truck Series event since 2016.
NASCAR’s secondary series is facing a huge brand change, leaving the title name “Xfinity Series” to become the brand-new O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. What is not changing, however, is its broadcast partner. The CW is headed for its 2nd season with the series, and has been investing heavily in it. Year after year, we put up the rating numbers and rank them accordingly in comparison to the previous season. Here’s how it works:
All Races (1 Total in 2026)
It wouldn’t be Daytona without some weird, wacky, and headline-grabbing fallout. From viral Victory Lane moments to renewed debates about driver approval, NASCAR’s biggest race once again delivered more than just on-track drama. And with Michael Jordan celebrating a Daytona 500 win, the spotlight burned brighter than it has in years.
Jordan’s presence mattered. When the most iconic athlete of a generation shows genuine emotion upon winning the Daytona 500, it reminds the wider sports world that this race still matters. That kind of authentic publicity cannot be manufactured. It resonated far beyond the garage. Meanwhile, the O’Reilly Series race added fuel to another ongoing debate. The massive Decker crash, Cleetus McFarland’s Truck debut incident, and past approval inconsistencies have once again raised tough questions. Consistency, transparency, and accountability are now front and center. Add in Austin Hill’s dominance and Ryan Ellis’ career-best sixth-place run to open the season, and Daytona gave fans plenty to talk about on and off the track.
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